Luxury travel news and reviews for Mexico, Central America, and South America

Starwood Expanding into Latin America

It looks like Starwood is waking up to the growth in Latin America and has announced some major expansion plans. Some of the hotels look like they’ll be the usual ho-hum corporate cookie-cutter types, but a few may be worth a look.

St. Regis Hotel, Mexico City
Opening sometime in 2008 and located on Reforma Avenue. As is all the rage these days, the 189 rooms will be joined by 100 residences for sale. (If they other St. Regis properties are any clue, residences will be far nicer and have better amenities than we lowly hotel guests receive.)

St. Regis Resort, Punta Mita
Same story here, with a mix of private villas and a hotel. With a 2008 opening around the corner from the Four Seasons Punta Mita. this will bring some serious competition to the prime coastal land north of Puerto Vallarta. “The hotel will feature 120 magnificently appointed guest rooms and suites, each with its own outside shower, and approximately 65 luxury villas for both fractional and whole ownership.” Look for a 10,000 square foot luxurious spa and fitness center.” (Funny though, last time I had a room with an outdoor shower it was less than $5 a night in Bali.)

The Westin Resort & Spa Roatan, Honduras
The pickings are slim for Honduras luxury hotels, so this is a welcome announcement, even if it does mean the beginning of the end for “no-chain-hotels” Roatan Island. Scheduled to open in 2008, this is also a huge hotel by Roatan standards, with 164 guest rooms, plus the requisite “individual residences and villas” to create a chair shortage at the pool.

The St. Regis Resort & Residences, Costa Rica
Not sure yet where this is in Costa Rica, but opening in 2008 in an ocean-front location, with 133 luxury guest rooms, each with a spacious outdoor terrace. This sounds worth a visit: “the cliff-side Presidential Suite boasts three large bedrooms, a private pool and spectacular views of both the jungle and the Pacific Ocean.”

W Santiago Hotel, Chile
I’ve been wondering when Starwood would see what’s going on in Buenos Aires and finally open up a W somewhere down here. Here’s the flack line: “Scheduled to open in 2008, the W Santiago Hotel, Chile is poised to become Santiago’s ultimate flirty escape and a destination in itself.”

If Starwood has bought your loyalty with their rewards program and you’re eyeing the points on your trip south, see the full press release here.

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